Linkers

• thirteen •

"Are you sure you want to have a duel with her?" Siora questioned, worried.

Hesitating, I decided that I was up to prove her wrong. "Yes, there's no harm in trying."

I stepped forward, my stance firm as she ran towards me, her keen sword swinging in her hand.

Clio moved to my side and pivoted on her heel, slicing her sword through the air and onto mine, causing a loud clash.

I hit my sword against the crimson blade of hers as she gave me an unfazed look. She furrowed her silver wings slightly as she pressed even further back against my sword, causing me to hold it with two hands to block it, clenching my teeth.

I wouldn't let her win. With all my strength, I pushed against her, my sword screeching against hers as she passed back.

"I see Lexon trained you well," Clio remarked as she ran rapidly to my other side in a split second, catching me off guard. She hit my sword with force, striking it to the dusty ground. "But not well enough to face me."

Clio turned her back from me, a smug look on her expression knowing that she'd won.

"See you, Sir Chanteu. Maybe I can even challenge that mysterious blonde friend of yours to a duel next."

My brows furrowed as I grabbed my sword, heading back to my friends.

I knew she meant Xenia.

I sure as hell wouldn't let Clio challenge her in any sort of duel.

Why was Clio acting this way towards Xenia? She barely even knew her.

"I'm sorry," Siora muttered at the fact that I lost the duel.

"No, it's okay. It wasn't the best Idea to go up against her in the first place, given that she is one of the top Admirals of our Guard. I guess I overestimated my abilities," I admitted. I should've known her advanced skills would overtake mine, especially because she always trained with Lexon.

"She's absolutely crazy," Orion said as he rolled his eyes, patting me on my back. "But at least you tried. I guess. How about going for a flight?"

I chuckled at his statement. He knew I loved spontaneous flights, as it helped me take my mind off of things for a while.

"That sounds better than all this," I released a sigh.

Xenia Westbay
• Washington, Earth •

My pencil was writing off of the lines of my notebook as I tried to keep up with my history teacher's boring lesson, however hundreds of overwhelming thoughts about Ririan swirled through my head, taking my attention.

Was me being a Linker connected to King Castian's situation of finding his missing family in any way? And what would he do if he somehow found out about me, especially if I was from Earth?

Would he think I could be the key to finding his missing family?

I recalled Rysdan's warning about him, that he was a dangerous person and no one to be messed with.

Rysdan had also told Leion and I that we would have to locate Althedon to find out more about the previous Linker from Earth that arrived in Castian's Kingdom Valalsia some time ago, and if he knew anything more about the disappearances.